Mountain Bike Equipment and History

In the 1970s, tough new bikes that relished rough terrain were developed and mountain biking was born. The sport started in California but its popularity soon spread.

A sport is born

In the 1970s, mountain biking developed as a fringe sport in California. Taking a bike off-road was nothing new but the development of a new bike that relished such terrain was; these bikes had fatter tyres, rapid-shift gears, drum brakes and ground-breaking suspension. These bikes gave thrill seeking cyclists a much more freedom and the sport of mountain biking was born.

Repack Downhill Race

The members of the Velo Club Mount Tamalpais in California generally receive the credit for establishing mountain biking as a sport. They invented the Repack Downhill race, held regularly between 1976 and 1979 just across the famous Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. The races attracted riders from near and far, and the media soon started taking an interest.

Olympic history

The first national mountain bike championships were held in 1983 in the USA. But the sport quickly grew in popularity in Europe and Australia. The first mountain bike World Championships, recognised by the International Cycling Union (UCI), were organised in 1990. Olympic recognition followed and mountain biking made its debut as an Olympic discipline at the Atlanta Games in 1996, with a cross-country event for men and women. The programme has remained unchanged ever since.Among the big names in this discipline is France’s Julien Absalon, a two-time gold-medal winner - in 2004 in Athens and in 2008 in Beijing.

Digging a pedalA pedal hitting the ground while the rider is leaning into a turn.

DownhillA non-Olympic mountain bike event in which riders race down a hill one-by-one, the winner being the rider with the fastest time.

DraftTo ride closely behind a competitor, saving energy by using that racer as a windbreak.

DriftThe bike slipping sideways while going forward, usually as a result of taking a corner too hard.

Fat-tyreA term for a mountain bike, so called because of their comparatively wide tyres.

Feeding station / zoneTerms for areas where riders in mountain bike or road races can pick up both food and liquid refreshments.

Force the paceTo increase speed to make the group to go faster.

Granny gearThe smallest chainring on a mountain bike, combined with the biggest sprocket to make the lowest gear; also called pixie gear or weenie gear.

HammerTo ride hard.

HardtailA mountain bike with no rear suspension.

HighsideBeing thrown from the bicycle in a direction counter to the turn.

Kick out1. a cornering technique in mountain biking that involves putting weight on the front wheel and shifting the body to one side so that the back wheel slides outwards. 2. the airborne lateral movement of a wheel when it loses contact with the riding surface in a turn.

LapOne loop of the track, course or circuit.

LappedA rider who has fallen behind another rider by one lap of the track, course or circuit is said to have been lapped.

Mass startA race start in which all racers start at the same time.

MechanicalSlang for a mechanical problem with the bicycle.

Off-camberA curve in the trail that throws riders to the outside of the turn.

Pedal clearanceThe amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as "cornering clearance" or "road clearance".

PelotonThe main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field.

PitsStations along the course where repairs can be made.

Pixie gearThe smallest chainring on a mountain bike, combined with the biggest sprocket to make the lowest gear; also called granny gear or weenie gear.

PullTo take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group.

PushclimbA section of a mountain biking trail with inadequate traction or too-steep a pitch, that forces cyclists to dismount and carry their bikes.

RailTo ride fast and cleanly through a corner.

Road clearanceThe amount of lean angle a bicycle can have without digging a pedal; also known as cornering clearance or pedal clearance.

Rock dodgeTo steer the handlebars quickly to one side to avoid small road hazards.